DEVELOPING APACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1943, Page 3

DEVELOPING APACE

THREAT TO GERMAN SOUTHERN ARMIES IN RUSSIA Russians Pouring Through Great Gap TORN IN DNIEPER LINE SOUTH-EAST OF KREMENCHUG DESPAIRING ENEMY STAND AT MELITOPOL / • — LONDON, October IS. On the Russian front, Soviet tanks, guns and infantry are pouring through the great gap torn in the German defences south-east of Kremenchug, a development which imperils the whole of the German armies south to the Crimea. Mr Paul Winterton, London “News-Chronicle’s” Moscow correspondent, states that the German position is steadily deteriorating, not merely south-east of Kremenchug, in the area of the big new break through, but all along the Dnieper front. On the White Russia front, the Russinans are successfully developing their attacks and south of Gomel they have forced the Upper Dnieper and smashed up the German defences on a 12-mile front. Even the serious consequences of mud and rain cannot at the moment stop the Russians. North of Kiev the enemy is incessantly counter-attacking, but always with the same result—he is weakening himself and still has to give ground before the Russian onset. In the south, Soviet forces have pushed further southward and the Nazis are not yet ready to leave Melitopol. In no other place are German troops dying as they are dying in Melitopol, with the Russians on one side of them and the Gestapo on the other. The Russians are confident that Melitopol will fall in the near future. The whole of the German forces in the area of the great Dnieper bend are in peril as a result of this break-through on the vital Kremenchug sector, which, the “Daily Telegraph” comments, is one of the Russians ’ most important successes since the opening of their offensive. The Germans have been fighting desperately to hold back the Red Army in this area, where their position covered the Dnieper bend, while they tried to keep closed their eastern gate to the Crimea in the Melitopol-Zapo-rozhe area. A Moscow communique states that Soviet troops have advanced three to six miles south-east of Kremenchug and have occupied 23 towns and villages. North of Kiev they have considerably improved their positions. On the White Russia front Soviet forces are successfully fighting on the west bank of the Dnieper, 30 miles from Gomel. South of Gomel, the Russians are consolidating their bridgehead across the River Soj. In the extreme south, street fighting is still going on in Melitopol.